Cresco Labs and Origin House Announce Substantial Compliance with HSR Second Request

CHICAGO and OTTAWA, Sept. 17, 2019 /CNW/ - Cresco Labs Inc. ("Cresco Labs") (CSE: CL) (OTCQX: CRLBF) and CannaRoyalty Corp. d/b/a Origin House ("Origin House" and together with Cresco Labs, the "Companies" – CSE: OH, OTCQX: ORHOF), both announced today that, effective September 16, 2019, they have each submitted certifications of substantial compliance with the request for additional information ("Second Request") from the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division (the "DOJ") in connection with Origin House's and Cresco Labs' notification to U.S. antitrust authorities pursuant to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 ("HSR Act"), as amended, in respect of Cresco Labs' pending acquisition of Origin House (the "Transaction").

The HSR Act waiting period was extended by the issuance of the Second Requests to Cresco Labs and Origin House. That extended waiting period terminates 30 days after substantial compliance, and the parties would be free to close unless the DOJ obtains an injunction against the transaction. That waiting period is expected to expire on or around October 17, 2019. The expiration of the waiting period under the HSR Act is the last significant condition to completing the Transaction, and the parties are expecting to be in a position to close the Transaction following the expiration of the waiting period.

Upon substantially complying with the Second Request, Origin House and Cresco Labs agreed to extend the outside date to complete the Transaction to November 15, 2019.

Charlie Bachtell, CEO of Cresco Labs, commented, "Today's announcement marks the crossing of yet another significant hurdle towards the completion of the Transaction. We are pleased to announce that both companies have now submitted their responses and look forward to closing the Transaction following the expiration of the applicable antitrust waiting period."

About Cresco Labs:

Cresco Labs is one of the largest vertically-integrated multi-state cannabis operators in the United States.  Cresco Labs is built to become the most important company in the cannabis industry by combining the most strategic geographic footprint with one of the leading distribution platforms in North America. Employing a consumer-packaged goods ("CPG") approach to cannabis, Cresco Labs' house of brands is designed to meet the needs of all consumer segments and includes some of the most recognized and trusted national brands including Cresco, Remedi and Mindy's, a line of edibles created by James Beard Award-winning chef Mindy Segal. Sunnyside*, Cresco Labs' national dispensary brand, is a wellness-focused retailer designed to build trust, education and convenience for both existing and new cannabis consumers. Recognizing that the cannabis industry is poised to become one of the leading job creators in the country, Cresco Labs has launched the industry's first national comprehensive Social Equity and Educational Development (SEED) initiative designed to ensure that all members of society have the skills, knowledge and opportunity to work in and own businesses in the cannabis industry.  Learn more about Cresco Labs at www.crescolabs.com.

About Origin House:

Origin House is a growing cannabis brands and distribution company operating across key markets in the U.S. and Canada, with a strategic focus on becoming a preeminent global house of cannabis brands. Origin House's California brand development platform is operated out of six licensed facilities located across California, and provides distribution, manufacturing, cultivation and marketing services for its brand partners. Origin House is actively developing infrastructure to support the proliferation of its brands internationally, initially in Canada through its acquisition of Canadian retailer 180 Smoke. Origin House's shares trade on the CSE under the symbol "OH" and on the OTCQX under the symbol "ORHOF". Origin House is the registered business name of CannaRoyalty Corp. For more information, visit www.originhouse.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the Companies' beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Companies' control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, 'may,' 'will,' 'should,' 'could,' 'would,' 'expects,' 'plans,' 'anticipates,' 'believes,' 'estimates,' 'projects,' 'predicts,' 'potential' or 'continue' or the negative of those forms or other comparable terms. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to the terms of the Transaction (including the terms, timing, closing and conditions thereof), the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under applicable antitrust legislation and the effect thereof on the Companies' ability to close the Transaction, the Companies' commitment to the Transaction, the timing to consummate the Transaction and the timing and likelihood that the conditions to the Transaction will be satisfied.

Forward-looking statements contained herein involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to those risks discussed under "Risk Factors" in each of the Company's  periodic disclosure filed on SEDAR; and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Companies, including, but not limited to: regulatory approvals; investing in target companies or projects that are engaged in activities currently considered illegal under US federal law; changes in laws; limited operating history; reliance on management; requirements for additional financing; competition; hindering market growth and state adoption due to inconsistent public opinion and perception of the medical-use and adult-use marijuana industry and; regulatory or political change. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Because of these uncertainties, readers should not place undue reliance on the any forward-looking statement contained herein; the results or events predicted in the forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results or events. No assurances are given as to the future trading price or trading volumes, nor as to financial performance in future financial periods.  Except as required by applicable law, neither Company intends to update any of these factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of new information, any future event or otherwise. Except as otherwise indicated, this press release speaks as of the date hereof. The distribution of this press release does not imply that there has been no change in the affairs of either Company after the date hereof or create any duty or commitment to update or supplement any information provided in this press release or otherwise.

SOURCE Origin House

Cresco Labs Contacts: Media: Jason Erkes, Cresco Labs, Chief Communications Officer, [email protected]; Investors: [email protected]; For general Cresco Labs inquiries: 312-929-0993, [email protected]; Origin House Contacts: Media: Priyam Chakraborty, Senior Communications Manager, Origin House, [email protected], 647-232-9287; Investors: Kingsdale Advisors, 1-888-302-5677, [email protected]; Jonathan Ross, LodeRock Advisors Inc., Origin House Investor Relations, 416-283-0178, [email protected]